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Author: Reform Monitor

Serbia Reform Agenda Update – Pilot Reform Monitor

Posted on by Reform Monitor

This Reform Agenda Update: Pilot Reform Monitor is the first of the series of national monitoring reports within the Reform Monitor project.

This first Reform Agenda Update – Pilot Reform Monitor is a preliminary update intended as a mid-semester snapshot (alert!) rather than a detailed evaluation. As the project team pilots the methodological approach and the indicators, further policy developments in the coming weeks may shift the status of currently pending reforms. The countries have one more month to make further progress to meet the June 2025 deadlines.

The Reform Monitor tracks the implementation of selected reform steps from the Reform Agendas. The selected reform steps are organised in so-called “policy domains” that fall within the policy areas and sub-areas of the Reform Agendas. These “policy domains” are developed following an additional level of reform identification and coding of reform steps developed by the project team. This approach was chosen to focus on reform steps common across the WB region and to enable regional-level analyses, benchmarking and comparability, given the available human resources and the thematic expertise of the TEN network. For methodological notes and the reform steps selection process, see the draft methodology note.

This Pilot Reform Agenda Update follows a structure aligned with the Reform Monitor’s methodology, covering: (1) a high-level Executive Summary; (2) procedural compliance under the RGF; (3) reform steps implementation status per policy domain; and (4) narrative and analysis of key progress and challenges. Each section provides a snapshot of progress and obstacles related to Serbia’s Reform Agenda implementation.

Please note that the cut-off date for data collection and assessment for this update is 30 June 2025. Developments occurring after this date are not reflected in this report but will be considered in subsequent updates.

RA_Pilot-Reform-Monitor_Serbia_First-Semester-2025_As-of-June-2025

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North Macedonia Reform Agenda Update – Pilot Reform Monitor

Posted on by Reform Monitor

This Reform Agenda Update: Pilot Reform Monitor is the first in the series of national monitoring reports within the Reform Monitor project.

This first  Reform Agenda Update: Pilot Reform Monitor is a preliminary update intended as a mid-semester snapshot (alert!) rather than a detailed evaluation. As the project team pilots the methodological approach and the indicators, further policy developments in the coming weeks may shift the status of currently pending reforms.

The Reform Monitor tracks the implementation of selected reform steps from the Reform Agenda. The selected reform steps are organised in so-called “policy domains” that fall within the policy areas and sub-areas of the Reform Agendas. These “policy domains” are developed following an additional level of reform identification and coding of reform steps by the project team. This approach was chosen to focus on reform steps common across the WB region and to enable regional-level analyses, benchmarking and comparability, given the available human resources and the thematic expertise of the TEN network. For methodological notes and the reform steps selection process see the draft methodology note.

This Pilot Reform Agenda Update follows a structure aligned with the Reform Monitor’s methodology, covering: (1) a high-level Executive Summary; (2) procedural compliance under the RGF; (3) reform steps implementation status per policy domain; and (4) narrative and analysis of key progress and challenges. Each section provides a snapshot of progress and obstacles related to North Macedonia’s Reform Agenda implementation.

Please note that the cut-off date for data collection and assessment for this update is 30 June 2025. Developments occurring after this date are not reflected in this report but will be considered in subsequent updates.

RA_Pilot-Reform-Monitor_North-Macedonia_First-Semester-2025_As-of-June-2025

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Albania Reform Agenda Update – Pilot Reform Monitor

Posted on by Reform Monitor

This Reform Agenda Update: Pilot Reform Monitor is the first in the series of national monitoring reports within the Reform Monitor project.

This first Reform Agenda Update: Pilot Reform Monitor is a preliminary update intended as a mid-semester snapshot (alert!) rather than a detailed evaluation. As the project team pilots the methodological approach and the indicators, further policy developments in the coming weeks may shift the status of currently pending reforms. The countries have one more month to make further progress to meet the June 2025 deadlines.

The Reform Monitor tracks the implementation of selected reform steps from the Reform Agendas. The selected reform steps are organised in so-called “policy domains” that fall within the policy areas and sub-areas of the Reform Agendas. These “policy domains” are developed following an additional level of reform identification and coding of reform steps by the project team. This approach was chosen to focus on reform steps common across the WB region and to enable regional-level analyses, benchmarking and comparability, given the available human resources and the thematic expertise of the TEN network. For methodological notes and the reform steps selection process, see the draft methodology note.

This Pilot Reform Agenda Update follows a structure aligned with the Reform Monitor’s methodology, covering: (1) a high-level Executive Summary; (2) procedural compliance under the RGF; (3) reform steps implementation status per policy domain; and (4) narrative and analysis of key progress and challenges. Each section provides a snapshot of progress and obstacles related to Albania’s Reform Agenda implementation.

Please note that the cut-off date for data collection and assessment for this update is June 30, 2025. Developments occurring after this date are not reflected in this report but will be considered in subsequent updates.

RA_Pilot-Reform-Monitor_Albania_First-Semester-2025_As-of-June-2025
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Kosovo Reform Agenda Update – Pilot Reform Monitor

Posted on by Reform Monitor

This Reform Agenda Update: Pilot Reform Monitor is the first in the series of national monitoring reports within the Reform Monitor project.

This first  Reform Agenda Update: Pilot Reform Monitor is a preliminary update intended as a mid-semester snapshot (alert!) rather than a detailed evaluation. As the project team pilots the methodological approach and the indicators, further policy developments in the coming weeks may shift the status of currently pending reforms. The countries have one more month to make further progress to meet the June 2025 deadlines.

The Reform Monitor tracks the implementation of selected reform steps from the Reform Agendas. The selected reform steps are organised in so-called “policy domains” that fall within the policy areas and sub-areas of the Reform Agendas. These “policy domains” are developed following an additional level of reform identification and coding of reform steps by the project team. This approach was chosen to focus on reform steps common across the WB region and to enable regional-level analyses, benchmarking and comparability, given the available human resources and the thematic expertise of the TEN network. For methodological notes and the reform steps selection process, see the draft methodology note.

This Pilot Reform Agenda Update follows a structure aligned with the Reform Monitor’s methodology, covering: (1) a high-level Executive Summary; (2) procedural compliance under the RGF; (3) reform steps implementation status per policy domain; and (4) narrative and analysis of key progress and challenges. Each section provides a snapshot of progress and obstacles related to Kosovo’s Reform Agenda implementation.

Please note that the cut-off date for data collection and assessment for this update is May 31, 2025. Developments occurring after this date are not reflected in this report but will be considered in subsequent updates.

RA_Pilot-Reform-Monitor_Kosovo_First-Semester-2025_As-of-May-2025-2

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Tracking the Reform Agenda – From Adoption to EC Assessment

Posted on by Reform Monitor

The infographic “Tracking the Reform Agenda: From Adoption to EC Assessment” provides a clear and concise visual overview of the key stages in the reform process, from the initial adoption of policies to their evaluation by the European Commission. Designed to enhance understanding of this complex journey, it highlights critical milestones.

Tracking-the-Reform-Agenda_From-Adoption-to-EC-Assessment_eng

reform-monitor.org – a single, accessible point of reference for tracking the progress of the national Reform Agendas

Posted on by Reform Monitor

The launch of the WB Reform and Growth Monitor on May 8th, 2025, marks a significant milestone in supporting transparency, accountability, and civil society participation in the implementation of the EU’s Reform and Growth Facility (RGF) for the Western Balkans. A comprehensive regional platform has been created to provide civil society organisations, researchers, media, national institutions, EU actors, and citizens with a single, accessible point of reference for tracking the progress of national Reform Agenda. This tool helps foster democratic oversight and public awareness in a reform process that directly links EU financial support with clearly defined reform outcomes.

The WB Reform and Growth Monitor https://reform-monitor.org/ is the project’s official website that consolidates official information, documents, and updates related to the RGF and the corresponding Reform Agendas adopted by the six Western Balkan countries. While these agendas represent one of the most structured reform frameworks introduced in the context of the EU accession process, they have so far remained difficult to navigate or understand in their entirety.

One of the most valuable features of the website is the unique region-wide database developed through careful extraction and standardisation of information from Annex 1 of each Reform Agenda. The database allows the user to explore, compare and analyse reform steps with their full description, responsible implementing institutions, timeline and deadline, and the amount of EU funding linked to their completion. Anyone using the platform can instantly filter reforms by country, policy area, deadline, or status, making it easier to identify delays, track completed reforms, and assess the overall progress made by each country under the Growth Plan.

The WB Reform and Growth Monitor project fills this gap by ensuring that all information is centralized, regularly updated, and presented in a clear and user-friendly format. Visitors to the website can find each country’s full Reform Agenda document, updates on the implementation of reform milestones, regular semestral monitoring reports, news items covering relevant developments, and a library of analytical outputs from project partners. By doing so, the platform not only enhances public scrutiny over the use of EU funds but also supports more informed engagement in reform implementation

This level of structured information is especially useful for civil society organisations who are increasingly expected to monitor the implementation of reforms and contribute with evidence-based advocacy. As part of the WB Reform and Growth Monitor project, a regranting scheme will be launched to support around 20 CSOs across the region in monitoring specific reform areas. The Monitor is designed to become their core resource—offering verified data, timelines, and documents to support their work. But beyond its utility for experts and civil society, the website also aims to raise public awareness about what the Reform and Growth Facility really means. It provides clarity on how EU support is being used, what governments have committed to do in return, and where citizens can demand accountability.

The launch of this platform is a contribution to participatory democracy in the Western Balkans. It reflects our belief that reforms are not just about ticking boxes to unlock funds, but about building better governance, delivering public goods, and bringing the region closer to EU standards. With this platform, we aim to bridge the information gap and empower a wide range of actors to engage more meaningfully in the reform process. The site is open and available to all, and we encourage organisations across the region and beyond to share it, use it, and become part of this growing effort to track and shape reform.

The WB Reform and Growth Monitor is available at https://reform-monitor.org/. 

We invite you to explore the site, make use of the database, follow the monitoring reports, and join us in promoting a transparent, evidence-based reform culture in the Western Balkans.

First Roundtable of the Dialogue Platform for the Reform Agenda

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Today marked the first roundtable of the dialogue platform for the Reform Agenda, serving as a starting point for collaboration between civil society, public institutions, and the European Union to create a transparent and inclusive framework for implementing reforms.

The discussions focused on the establishment of the RGF Monitoring Committee, the ministries’ progress in carrying out planned measures, and the involvement of civic actors to guarantee a reform process with lasting impact.

Moving forward, the platform will continue to function as a structured tripartite dialogue mechanism grounded in transparency and data, ensuring meaningful participation from civil society, academia, and the private sector.

N-CoMER-Roundtable-Summary-Report-5-JUNE-1.pdf

N-CoMRA in Kosovo Holds Its First Meeting

Posted on by Reform Monitor

Today on 30th of May, the National Consultation Mechanism for Reform Agenda (N-CoMRA) in Kosovo has held its first meeting. This platform aims to bring together all actors of civil society, academia, chambers of commerce and all other activists and supporters of EU integrations into a single space. It is organized by the Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS) and its goal is to monitor the implementation of Kosovo’s Reform Agenda.

The Reform Agenda is a complex document spanning 111 reform steps in 5 policy areas such as Governance, Public Administration Reform and Public Finance Management; Green and Digital Transition; Private Sector Development and Business Environment, Human Capital Development and Retention and Fundamentals / Rule of Law. Therefore, such a sophisticated process requires the input of not only public institutions but also civil society, academia, economic chamber for a better implementation rate.

At the start of the event a draft concept note for the N-CoMRA was presented by research fellow Besar Gërgi. Following that, present members gave numerous comments on improving the concept note and structuring the cooperation to enhance intra-civil society collaboration. Finally, N-CoMRA adopted a Declaration to call for the speedy ratification of the Facility Agreement between Kosovo and the European Union which is the prerequisite to acquire the pre-financing in the value of € 61.8 million.

We once again urge all the interesting civil society organizations to join the National  Consultation Mechanism for Reform Agenda to provide their input in order to ensure transparency in the Reform Agenda and also contribute towards a better implementation rate that would be translated into a closer integration with the EU and more funds for the citizens of the country.

Key-Takeaways-N-CoMRA-First-Meeting_Kosovo

Methodological Note on Monitoring the Reform Agendas’ Progress in Western Balkan Countries

Posted on by Reform Monitor

This document outlines the monitoring approach to the Reform Agendas under the RGF. The methodological note includes an overview of relevant best practices in monitoring reforms in the Western Balkans and an overview of the monitoring framework. The document presents the scope of the monitoring exercises, elaborates on the indicator hierarchy, and provides a summary of each indicator category intended to be used. The methodological approach is currently piloted, covering the reform steps with December 2024 and June 2025 deadlines. The methodology, including the indicators, may be subject to change in order to fine-tune the monitoring approach for the following semesters.


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The first meeting of the N-CoMER in Albania will be on 5th of June

Posted on by Reform Monitor

Since the endorsement of the Reform Agenda last November, Albania has entered a new phase of its EU integration journey—one that is not only ambitious in scope, but also unprecedented in terms of the financial and political support it has mobilized. Under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, Albania stands to receive up to EUR 922 million by 2027. The first pre-financing tranche of EUR 64.5 million has already been disbursed, marking a tangible start to this multi-year commitment.

Progress is gradually taking shape. In February 2025, Albania submitted its first reform progress report, now under assessment by the European Commission. If approved, it will unlock the next EUR 76.7 million. By June 2025, a further EUR 127.8 million may follow, conditional on the completion of 18 reform steps across five policy areas.

To support this process, key institutional steps have been taken. In March, Albania ratified the loan and facility agreements. In May, the Council of Ministers formalized national coordination and reporting structures to guide implementation. Within this framework, SASPAC, as National Coordinator, will jointly establish with the European Commission a Reform and Growth Facility (RGF) Monitoring Committee. This body will include civil society and business representatives and convene annually to review reform progress and promote accountability.

Yet, institutional action alone is not enough. Meaningful reform depends on the active involvement of civic actors—organizations, experts, and communities who can contribute to implementation and independent monitoring. To this end, the IDM Albania has launched N-CoMER as a platform for cross-sector dialogue. It aims to strengthen civil society’s voice in shaping inclusive and transparent reform processes.

This first roundtable will bring together civic and institutional actors as well as international partners to review the progress of the Reform Agenda, discuss the role of national consultation and coordination bodies, and explore participatory strategies for its execution.

The event will be held on the 5th of June, 10:00 – 12:00, at Marriott Tirana, Amantia.

Agenda – RA Dialogue Platform 5 June

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